Brilliante Weblog

Oh, thanks so much Vhiel for this award. It's an honor to receive such a brilliant diamond award:)

The recipients of the Brillante Weblog are welcome to put the Logo on their personal blogs and have the honor of passing this award to seven other bloggers. Here are the rules for passing on the award:

l. Put the logo on your blog
2. Add a link to the person who awarded you.
3. Nominate at least seven other blogs
4. Add links to those blogs on your blog

Leave a message for your nominee on their blog.

Now I would like to pass the award to the following bloggers: 4ever7, Everything Under the Sun, Everyday Life, Pinay Mom in Czech Republic, Everything that Has Breathe, Merydith's Place, spell GRANDMASTERSON.

Photo Hunt "Dark"

We spent the 4th of July boating at Lake Mead. We were having so much fun at the lake that it was already dark when we docked. While waiting for Jim to finish filling the tank, I went inside the small store near the gas station and was so surprised to overhear the guys talking in Tagalog. We did some chit chat and found out- they own the Gas Station and the store. Wow! That's a great location. I believe most people that go there have boats. A small boat can fill up to $600-$1,000 worth of gas! Good business, isn't it? I wonder how they make through those winter days though.

Anonymously Alcoholic

I was talking to my close friend (way back our Taiwan days) on the phone last week. As always, it’s nice to stay in touch and catching up what we’ve been through from being married, foods we missed back home to motherhood. Oh, she’s one of those very fine, modest and brilliant person I’ve ever met. She considers herself a daughter of an alcoholic Mom. Most of her frustrations lie on trying to reach out, establish a good and normal relationship with her Mom. I can’t really relate to her but I tried to understand, the best I can. Sometimes, it’s always a relief to have a real conversation (girl talk), if you know what I mean.

Anyway, she was so happy to tell me how her confession (to a priest) went on. Oh, I can still hear the enthusiasm of her telling me on how the priest was able to relate to her as they share the same sentiments. The priest gave her an assignment to read the book of Janet Woititz- titled “Adult Children of Alcoholic”. I was just so glad she finally was able to define the issue and resolve the struggle she had deep within. It may not be abrupt but I know slowly, wounds will heal.

Then, I told her how I was a little bit disappointed when I came back home for the fiesta and to attend the high school reunion last May. Old friends drink like there’s no tomorrow, they thought they’re so funny, dancing like a bold star, etc. I mean, to think that they’re all married and kids are at home. Gezz, I felt bad for them and they seemed stuck. I was even thinking maybe I’m getting old that I don’t have tolerance anymore. I don’t really drink or maybe occasionally because I don’t see the point of it. Spending money on liquor to make you feel better for a few minutes or hours then what? Oh yeah, throw up or you get sick the next day, grrrr.

Well, don’t get me wrong. My Dad drinks almost every weekend. He’s a cheap alcoholic though; one or two shots of beer or wine can make him dizzy. He just sleeps through it and the next day- he’s fine. Two of my sisters started drinking when they were only 15. My Mom’s brother drinks liquor as early as 6AM. That’s his coffee, I guess.

The most fascinating part though is when I met our big customer in UK. Oh, they just love drinking. Blaine told us about his trip to Germany on a trade show and how they manage to make a business deal despite being drunk. That’s how it works! You spend money to give them some drinks and you’ll get a good order in return. Awesome!

I’m just so grateful my Mom doesn’t drink nor my husband. We’re both too conservative about drinking. Well, I guess I gotta grab that book later this weekend. Hopefully, it can give me a better hindsight about the matter.

Love Your Neighbors

I always thought neighbors don’t really care, socialize or talk much here in the US. Yes, it's a fast lifestyle that nobody can afford to waste their time. That’s just what I heard of from “balikbayans” or Filipinos who come home for a vacation. Well, certainly not in our neighborhood, I guess. I remembered on my first Sunday- Wayne and Debbie, our next-door neighbor came knocking on the door with 2 plates of yummy foods for us! On my first day, we were outside doing some gardening with my husband when another neighbor across the street (now my Dentist) came to say “hi” and I was even surprised he already knew my name. Then, another neighbor (both lawyers) gave me a bouquet of flowers! That was very sweet! Last Saturday, we had dinner with another neighbor (across the street) at PF Chang’s as Jim opted that instead of a barbeque. They said, they’ve been trying to do it a year ago but everybody’s too busy.

I know, it’s all about my neighbors, LOL! I mean, it was a little bit surprising to me as it’s very far from my expectations. Sometimes, I would just interrupt my husband talking to a neighbor coz the dinner is ready and I don’t want it to get cold. It’s really amazing- how they manage to stop by and chat for a while after a long day of work. However, our neighborhood is not that close compared to Rick’s (Jim’s bestfriend) neighborhood. Every month, each neighbor will host a party. We were even invited twice already and I liked the warmth of friendship and brotherhood. I’m just so grateful to have found such great neighbors around. And if I need some Filipinos to talk to or hang out with? I’ve got a few good friends and neighbors too!

Wordless Wednesday

Jake was really cute when he was a puppy, LOL! We remembered him playing around with his favorite babble ball and he's always curious when he would hear some farts, hahaha! He would go right into it :) He's a little naughty these days though. He jumps around with anybody and bark at all people that passes by or even just the UPS guy.

Web of Life

My husband caught Rosa (housekeeper) crying down the laundry room. When asked why she’s crying, she just said she had a big problem. Jim got very curious and so she opened up. She had her house for short sale. The bank had sold it and she need to move in a week. So, Jim suggested that she may stay with her brother for the meantime while looking for a place to stay. She replied, their house is so small and it’s already full. Besides, she had her Mom with her and 3 kids and one is pregnant. Holy Molly! That’s a bummer! It’s indeed a big problem, isn’t it? She’s close to being homeless! I have not known Rosa for a long time since she only comes every Friday with her son to do some housekeeping. Sometimes, I felt bad about her doing all the house work despite having some arthritis at times. We even decided we might just tell her to come every 2 weeks but she lost her main job- cleaning the Yoga place. She is a legal Mexican that had worked as a housekeeper/ maid here in the US for over 20 years. She can’t speak English that good though. She had acquired her house 3 years ago and maybe something that she’s looking forward to retiring. Now, she lost everything that she had worked for a long time. I mean, it was really sad when Jim told me about her story.

You know, when I came here- I was pretty much expose to some Mexicans as Jim had few good friends that helped him on some construction works. It’s even sad to see those guys standing by in Laguna Beach waiting for somebody to hire them. There’s always a parallelism on our drama and their drama in life. Jim would tell me about some weird stories- (apparently strange to him) about how the husband worked so hard here while the wife is playing fire with the brother-in-law, and so on and so forth. It doesn’t surprise me at all as I have a collection of true-to-life stories or soap operas way back in my own country. There’s not much difference at all. I guess, we just share the same culture.

I’m just relieved when Jim told me he gave her a thousand to at least help her move to some place because that’s what she was really crying about- she had no money at all! Life is not really fair for her, I think.

Photo Hunt "Clouds"

A friend (neighbor way back in our island-Camiguin, Philippines) was here in CA for a vacation with her whole family. So, we decided to meet in Balboa Island, Newport Beach where they stayed- together with some other neighbors who’s been married and lived near the area. It was really fun and exciting to talk about our new lives, adjustments and share our own struggle and happiness in our new-found home. These pictures were taken on our way back from the Balboa Peninsula riding the ferry. It was around 7PM and so the “clouds” get really strange.

Friends are Forever!

I just thought of sharing this story of friendship as it moved me to tears and hopefully it can inspire you too:)

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One day, when I was a freshman in high school, I saw a kid from my class walking home from school. His name was Kyle. It looked like he was carrying all of his books. I thought to myself, "Why would anyone bring home all his books on a Friday? He must really be a nerd." I had quite a weekend planned (parties and a football game with my friend the following afternoon), so I shrugged my shoulders and went on.As I was walking, I saw a bunch of kids running toward him. They ran at him, knocking all his books out of his arms and tripping him so he landed in the dirt. His glasses went flying, and I saw them land in the grass about ten feet from him. He looked up and I saw this terrible sadness in his eyes.My heart went out to him. So, I jogged over to him, and as he crawled around looking for his glasses, I saw a tear in his eye.I handed him his glasses and said, "Those guys are jerks. They really should get lives." He looked at me and said, "Hey, thanks!" There was a big smile on his face. It was one of those smiles that showed real gratitude. I helped him pick up his books, and asked him where he lived. It turned out he lived near me, so I asked him why I had never seen him before. He said he had gone to private school before coming to this school.I would have never hung out with a private school kid before. We talked all the way home, and I carried his books. He turned out to be a pretty cool kid. I asked him if he wanted to play football on Saturday with me and my friends. He said yes. We hung all weekend and the more I got to know Kyle, the more I liked him. And my friends thought the same of him. Monday morning came, and there was Kyle with the huge stack of books again. I stopped him and said, "Damn boy, you are gonna really build some serious muscles with this pile of books everyday!". He just laughed and handed me half the books. Over the next four years, Kyle and I became best friends. When we were seniors, we began to think about college. Kyle decided on Georgetown, and I was going to Duke. I knew that we would always be friends, that the miles would never be a problem. He was going to be a doctor, and I was going for business on a football scholarship. Kyle was valedictorian of our class.I teased him all the time about being a nerd. He had to prepare a speech for graduation. I was so glad it wasn't me having to get up there and speak. Graduation day arrived - I saw Kyle and he looked great. He was one of those guys that really found himself during high school. He filled out and actually looked good in glasses. He had more dates than me and all the girls loved him!Boy, sometimes I was jealous. Today was one of those days. I could see that he was nervous about his speech. So, I smacked him on the back and said, "Hey, big guy, you'll be great!" He looked at me with one of those looks (the really grateful one) and smiled. "Thanks," he said. As he started his speech, he cleared his throat, and began. "Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it through those tough years. Your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach... but mostly your friends. I am here to tell all of you that being a friend to someone is the best gift you can give them. I am going to tell you a story."I stared at my friend in disbelief as he told the story of the first day we met. He had planned to kill himself over the weekend. He talked of how he had cleaned out his locker so his Mom wouldn't have to do it later and was carrying his stuff home. He looked hard at me and gave me a little smile. "Thankfully, I was saved. My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable."I heard the gasp go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us all about his weakest moment. I saw his Mom and dad looking at me and smiling that same grateful smile. Not until that moment did I realize its depth.Never underestimate the power of your actions. With one small gesture you can change a person's life. For better or for worse. God puts us all in each other's lives to impact one another in some way. Look for God in others."Friends are angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly."